Cory Littleton named 'surprise offseason standout' for Rams

There were a handful of players who stood out during the Los Angeles Rams’ offseason workout program, which included OTAs and mandatory minicamp. While Aaron Donald wasn’t in attendance and a few projected starters were held out due to injury, the Rams still put together a bunch of strong practices.

Among those who performed well were Jared Goff, Brandin Cooks, Justin Lawler and Samson Ebukam, but no one should be overlooking Cory Littleton at this point in the offseason. He took snaps at middle linebacker as the defensive signal caller, looking more and more like a starter heading into 2018.

A former undrafted free agent in 2016, Littleton took the place this offseason of former team captain Alec Ogletree at inside linebacker. Littleton demonstrated to the staff in limited playing time in 2017 that he had the ability to be a playmaker. Coach Sean McVay said Littleton “immediately stepped in” during the offseason program and that he has done a “great job communicating” in a position that requires a leader.

Littleton isn’t a lock to start in Alec Ogletree’s place next to Mark Barron, but as of now, he definitely looks like the front-runner. He’s an athletic linebacker with good instincts and awareness in coverage, but he could use some work as a run defender.

He’s not the thumper that many associate with inside linebackers in a 3-4 defense, but in today’s pass-happy NFL, coverage skills are almost more important. That being said, Littleton has to show he can hold up against the run if the Rams want to improve their 28th-ranked rush defense from a year ago.

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